A total of 323 of the 478 detention facilities of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) nationwide has been “heavily congested” with congestion rates ranging from 101 to 2,739 percent. In its audit report, the Commission on Audit (COA) said that as of Dec. 31, 2022, jail population in BJMP facilities was 127,031 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) “which far exceeded the total ideal capacity of 46,702 detainees.” COA also said that while the ideal cell areas for all jail facilities should be 597,045.70 square meters based on the 4.7 square meters ideal habitable floor area per detainee, BJMP’s facilities only have a total cell area of 219,498 square meters which is good only for 46,702 PDLs. "At present there are 323 jail facilities that are considered heavily congested with occupancy rates ranging from 101 to 2,739 percent or congestion rates of one to 2,639 percent, which is not in conformity with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and BJMP Manual on Habitat, Water, Sanitation and Kitchen in Jails," the COA said. It said that the Dasmarinas City Jail-Female Dormitory in Regional Office IV-A is considered as the most overcrowded jail with a current maximum congestion rate of 2,639 percent, followed by San Mateo Municipal Jail-Male Dormitory in Rizal, also in Regional Office IV-A, with 2,523 percent congestion rate. The third most congested is the Muntinlupa City Jail- Male Dormitory with 2,266 percent congestion rate, it also said. COA said that BJMP’s Directorate for Operations reported that out of the 127,031 PDLs detained in 478 jails, a total of 113,686 or 89 percent are awaiting or undergoing trial; 9,854 or eight percent are sentenced for less than three years; and 3,491 are insular PDLs or those with sentences of more than three years. It also said the BJMP has been striving hard to professionalize jail services and provide the basic needs of PDLs such as food, medicines, and rehabilitation supplies. However, the COA noted that congestion has always been one of its biggest challenges. There was an increase in BJMP jail population of 1,684 PDLs or 1.34 percent in 2022 compared to 2021, COA said. "The observed rise of PDLs population can be attributed to the increase in the new admittance of PDLs in view of the government's campaign against illegal drugs and the court's slow or delayed/actions/decisions on pending cases due to lack of judges; postponement of hearings; and slow disposition of criminal cases that carry the penalty of reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment," it said. In its report, COA recommended that the BJMP continue making representation with concerned local government units (LGUs) and other national government agencies for possible donations for the construction of more jail facilities, and facilitate the early release of qualified detainees under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law.